Riddell is full of confidence as it heads into its third straight Riddell District Netball League grand final.
The Bombers put together one of their better performances in Saturday’s preliminary final against Macedon to win through to the decider.
For a third straight year, it will be Woodend-Hesket that stands between them and the premiership cup.
Bombers coach Emily Ktona said the group was stoked to be back in the final game of the season.
“Everything came together,” she said.”We’ve worked really hard and played well for 60 minutes and played them to the end.
“We didn’t let them get back into it and stuck it out until the final siren, unlike last week.”
The Bombers led by six goals at quarter time on Saturday and the same margin at the main break.
The Cats reduced it to five goals at the final break, keeping themselves in the game.
Riddell stayed focused and had their best quarter of the game in the final term to ensure the win.
Ktona said they felt like they were just getting better as the season goes along
“We’ve instinctively trusting ourselves,” she said. “That has been a key word the last couple of weeks.
“Finn [Fionnuala McKeagney-Stubbs] has gone to Europe on exchange so we’ve had different matches up and it just clicked and I’m happy.”
Naomi Fitzpatrick, who is part of Boroondara Express’s championship Victorian Netball League side, came into the side for McKeagney-Stubbs.
Ktona said they had qualified her knowing that they would lose McKeagney-Stubbs.
“She [Fitzpatrick] has been great for us and is super calm under pressure,” she said. “We’re super lucky to have her as a replacement.”
The coach said Lauren Nolan also had a good game in defence for them.
Bec Colwell shot 43 goals for the Bombers.
Netty Donoghue led the way for the Cats with 25 goals.
Ktona said they felt primed for the grand final.
“We have a really good mix of youth and experience,” she said. “We have Meredith [Ball], Lauren and Bec who are all mothers.
“Then we’ve got the younger ones, It’s such a good mix which is really important.”
The Bombers played the Hawks in the first week of the finals, with the Hawks doing a lot of the damage in the first half.
Ktona said if they can put their best out on the court they felt they could match it.
“We were so happy to have a good game the week before the grand final and we think that will work in our favour,” she said.
“The game gives us full of confidence, unlike last year when we had a one goal win in the prelim.
“This year is a little bit different having played a good 60 minutes and we know what we can put out on the day.”
The Bombers other netball side in the grand finals is B-grade, after C-grade lost in extra time on Saturday to Macedon.
